Sunday, October 24, 2010

Ebony Magazine Takes Easy Way Out

A couple days ago, one of Kimora Lee Simmons's Twitter followers sent a tweet complaining about an ad that Essence Magazine was running that featured a Baby Phat coat. An ad that included Kimora's name as though she is still with them. I haven't seen it, so I can't make a judgment until I do. I've got a major life shift going on right now, so my focus is not exacty as sharp as it should be on some things, but as it turns out, I'm getting two for one because of it.

After the young lady mentioned the Essence ad, I figured I'd go out and pick it up to see for myself. And, I did...or so I thought. I picked up a magazine from 7-11 yesterday and carefully flipped through every page looking for the aforementioned ad. I didn't see it. What I did see was the thing you see in the photo above. Even yesterday, I thought, "This isn't an ad. They just mention that she left." Sure, it wasn't an ad, but I should have hopped on the fact that they claim she "left" immediately, because that's not true. She was forced out in the worst wayby a bunch of sexist pigs.

So, today I decide that I'd send some tweets with admonishments to Essence for the lazy reporting...only to realize that I'd picked up an Ebony Magazine! While that wasn't the plan, to get an Ebony Magazine, I'm glad that I did or I would've never seen this lazy piece of information sharing.

Ebony has done a magnificent job of upgrading and modernizing the layout of that the time-honored beacon in the African-American community, so you'd think this Kimora Lee Simmons/Baby Phat story would be the perfect piece to get them some more credibility. You know, make some tough decisions to cover a story that would ruffle a few feathers. But, no. They decided to take the easy way out and I couldn't be more disappointed. If the Huffington Post could get even closeto reporting why she actually isn't there any longer, I certainly expect that Ebony Magazine can.

Contact Ebony on Twitter at @EbonyMag to let them know your level of disappointment regarding this matter. Or, let them know via a special survey that they've set upto get feedback on the 65th anniversary edition on their website. The same one with that weak piece of reporting regarding Kimora and Baby Phat. No need to be rude or anything. Just let them know that we expect better of them. --Sugar